CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mint Museum Auxiliary is honored to host legendary style icon Oscar de la Renta as part of the organization's annual Room to Bloom fundraiser slated for April 27th – 29th, according to Hillary Cooper, president of the Mint Museum Auxiliary. Mr. de la Renta will present his Fall 2011 collection as part of the "The Art of Style," an evening fashion show and special gala at the Mint Museum Uptown. In addition, Miles Redd, creative director of Oscar de la Renta Home and recently named to Elle Decor's Top 25 A-List Designers for 2010, will be the featured speaker at the annual Room to Bloom symposium.

According to Cooper, the special events promise to be some of the most distinctive and glamorous fashion experiences in Charlotte's history. "To have Oscar de la Renta come to Charlotte for this one-of-a-kind event at the Mint Museum is nothing short of fantastic," she said.

Special Oscar de la Renta: Charlotte's Collection

Each spring, the Mint Museum Auxiliary plans, produces and hosts Room to Bloom, one of two highly-touted annual fundraisers designed to support the Mint Museum of Art. This year's tie to fashion not only showcases the Mint Museum's new 145,000 square-foot space in Uptown Charlotte but also recognizes one of the Mint's top artistic focuses -- the Historic and Fashionable Dress Collection, founded nearly forty years ago by the Mint Museum Auxiliary. In keeping with that legacy, a collection of Oscar de la Renta gowns – old, new and all on loan from the closets of some of the most beautifully-dressed women of Charlotte - will be on display in the Museum's contemporary arts gallery as part of "The Art of Style" event.

The Oscar de la Renta: Charlotte's Collection will be on display after "The Art of Style" event and open to the public on April 30th and May 1st. It will include a special Oscar de la Renta gown acquired by the Mint Museum Auxiliary as part of "The Art of Style" event and will be housed as a permanent part of the Mint's Historic and Fashionable Dress Collection.